Dec 21, 2014

Two very special woods are used in your choice of these rustic wedding cake toppers, priced at $39 to $45 each. Beautiful blonde birch wood is fine-grained, pale, and prized for it's attractive satin-like sheen (shown here with wood-burned edges for even more rustic charm). Mahogany has a reddish-brown color that darkens over time, and is made to last. A coat of rich lacquer helps seal the wood and protect the lettering (about 7" wide). The height and width of these elegant wooden cake toppers make a standard 5 to 8 inch cake top the perfect size.

Dec 8, 2014

These incredibly beautiful wooden save the date magnets are laser cut and engraved. At less than two dollars each, they promise a lovely, lighthearted day that will be hard to resist. Made from real cherry wood (reddish brown with a golden luster), they are 4mm or .16 inch thick, and considering they are made in Bulgaria, reflect how deeply we Americans are attached to our own home states. (California may have crime and coyotes but also the most beautiful mild Mediterranean climate this side of Madrid!) Love the lasting look of laser engraved wood? Also available are wedding invitations, cake toppers, guest books and wedding ring boxes. Allow 15-25 days for delivery of these exquisite engraved save the date magnets.

Dec 7, 2014

Rustic winter weddings provide the most simple yet elegant table arrangements. Lovely cold weather flowers such as roses, ranunculus, orchids and paper white lilies combined with aromatic greenery such as fresh pine, cedar, eucalyptus and juniper make the day fragrant and festive. Make this romantic magic happen outdoors if you live in Pensacola rather than Poughkeepsie. Either way, your rustic table settings will come alive with evergreens, ferns and home-grown holly bushes with their shiny green leaves and bright red berries.

Dec 3, 2014

Midnight blue weddings - resembling the deep, dark color of a moonlit sky on or near the night of a full moon. And exquisite, like these midnight blue bridesmaid dresses with lace illusion necklines and delicate cap sleeves. I think this mysterious member of the blue (most popular color in the United States and Europe) family stands sweetly all alone. You may prefer it with yellow, black, silver or gold.

Nov 19, 2014

Gold metallic wedding ideas - eleven of my favorites are featured here. The freestanding table signs shown below are so very popular, Tina at Better Off Wed is practically turning away sales. So plan ahead! Spray paint a variety of bottles metallic gold - once they're finished it doesn't matter if they're from a Miller Lite or a bottle of Malibu Caribbean Rum. Homemade peach preserves look exquisite in gold painted mini Mason jars. Popular wedding colors now are gold and pink, gold and purple, gold and white or ivory. I say metallic gold is soft and sweet and stands alone.

Nov 15, 2014

A deep purple bridal bouquet offers just what you need for this jam-packed day more than any other. The color purple is said to calm the mind and nerves. And inspire in us a great sense of spirituality. It has been seen by everyone from Leonardo Da Vinci to the L.A. Lakers as the perfect marriage of blue (wisdom) and red (passion). The passion you already have, the wisdom you'll need to make sure over 100 guests enjoy your choice of broiled salmon seasoned with bread crumbs, garlic, lemon, and butter. Consider these elegant purple wedding flowers in creating the perfect bridal bouquet:

Nov 13, 2014

An easy DIY winter wedding centerpiece idea - a gentle dusting of gold glitter transforms an ordinary red pillar into something elegant and expensive looking. To quickly create a horizontal, diagonal or chevron striped effect, wrap a piece of double sided tape all the way around your candle. Repeat, leaving about an inch or more of space between each piece of tape. Fill a small bowl with glitter. Using a paintbrush, gently dust glitter over the taped stripes until they’re fully covered.

Nov 11, 2014

Vegetarian soup mix favors made with a delicious blend of dried beans - a welcome cold weather wedding favor. If you can fill a small cellophane bag, you can give the gift of a heartwarming soup mix made of red and green lentils, great northern beans, red kidney beans, split green peas, and small black beans (so nutritious they have their own food pyramid category in the heart-healthy country of Brazil). Simply layer the beans, lentils and peas in a pint-sized Mason jar. Place the spices in a small cellophane bag, fold over several times and place on top of dry soup mix. Replace the lid, cover with your favorite fabric and tie with a pretty twine bow.

Nov 8, 2014

This rustic themed wedding sign - "Today I marry my best friend, the one I laugh with, live for, dream with, Love." was photographed by Claudette Montero at Schnebly's Redland Winery, about thirty five miles southwest of Miami. The lush green gardens and grounds, a bright sunny day and the rustic, romantic ambience of weathered wine barrels, wooden crates and glowing lace covered tea lights, made it the perfect place for Amanda and Angelica to celebrate the joy of marrying a best friend and cherished lover.

Nov 6, 2014

I love this breathtaking fall inspired wedding cake with burnt orange roses, petite purple calla lilies, and green, gold and crimson leaves. All fall themed fondant flowers nestled into this delicate white wedding cake. For me, fall has never been about saying goodbye to beach weather and "hello" to hibernation. There's nothing sad or melancholy about this time of year no matter what the poets say. It's about hot apple cider, candy corn and cinnamon scented candles. Double layer pumpkin cheesecake and a front porch full of fallen golden leaves. Everything cozy, colorful and inviting - just the way you always dreamed a fall wedding would be.

Oct 22, 2014

No need to empty your checking account to recreate these fall wedding centerpiece ideas. So warm, so inviting...so affordable. I never leave a supermarket, drug store or department store empty handed when candles are on sale. Everything looks romantic - even a grilled sandwich and a glass of cold milk - under the glow of soft candlelight. My favorite stores mark down orange candles after Thanksgiving and red and green candles soon after Christmas. I load up on these markdowns because I expect to pay full price for white candles all year long.

A weathered piece of wood, serving as a simple rustic platter for a variety

of golden pillars and candles, fresh wheat, and green, red and purple grapes.

Fall painted Mason jars, available in dark taupe, olive, peach and cream for $32 at Etsy.

The easiest, most elegant fall centerpiece of all. How many vintage wine glasses (some of them exquisitely hand etched) have you passed over at garage sales and thrift stores for less than 50 cents each?

Oct 18, 2014

My favorite find on Etsy today - personalized origami flowers﻿ - dipped in champagne gold acrylic paint and embellished (inside and out) with your names, the date of your wedding or anniversary, and the sweetest words you ever heard him say, "I love you." Have this set of five origami flowers - two large and three petite - finished in the center with beautiful cream, black or gold pearls. Button centers, also available, add a rustic touch. These don't have stems, and this charming set of five will cost you $28. Don't want to spend that kind of cash on paper flowers? They are incredibly easy and inexpensive to make. Once you learn how, you'll be designing beautiful bouquets, boutonnieres and centerpieces. Here's a great tutorial on how to create your own origami flower bouquet.

Aug 8, 2014

Eco-friendly wedding decorations may be as close your mother's, your neighbor's or your own back yard. Do you know a little old lady who planted lavender last year to keep mosquitos away and now is overwhelmed by this fast growing plant? It could be roses, peonies or petunias - whatever is multiplying faster than your friends or extended family can keep up with (in my case, it's purple hydrangeas). If hot and humid summers make you need a natural mosquito repellant like we desperately do here in Southeast Virginia and it happens to be lavender (instead of lemon balm or citronella), try using some of these lovely eco-friendly lavender wedding ideas.

Aug 6, 2014

Orchid boutonnieres - created with an exotic flower that evokes a sense of refinement and to the ancient Greeks - virility. And that's not all. In the Middle Ages, orchids were used as aphrodisiacs and were mixed and measured into overpriced love potions. Knights and noblemen couldn't get enough potion or passion. Aztec Indians, big strong studs who also thought orchids made them better lovers, extracted vanilla from the flower and drank it morning, noon and night. So there you have it. Guys are a lot more interested in fresh flowers than they're willing to admit.